Weather during July-August from Besançon into Rome

[camster]

I walked the Frances 2 summers ago and I remember being cold in the morning and evening. I had never known a dry climate, as where I live near Montreal, summers and stuffy and humid and the warm weather doesn't dissipate during. It stays warm and humid during the night too. I was wondering what I can expect weather-wise on the Francigena, to pack accordingly (merino, quick-dry, heavy layers). I know it will be cold at St. Bernard's Pass, but if it's the only spot, I'll adjust.
Thanks!

 

[JabbaPapa]

This is frankly an imponderable -- though Summer in Italy is anyway hot, especially as you get into Latium/Lazio.

I know it will be cold at St. Bernard's Pass

I have never walked that route, but I have been up on such Alpine Passes in Summer more than once -- maybe it will be cold, but maybe it will be super hot, or maybe it will be comfortably warm or cool.

Alpine weather is even more unpredictable than the Pyrenees.

 

[Bradypus]

I walked from Canterbury to Rome in summer 2015. I passed through Besançon in mid-August on a day of thunderstorms and heavy rain. The end of a heatwave several days long. Between there and Rome I met lots of different weather conditions. 5C at the Grand Saint Bernard pass and frost on the ground in the morning. 35+C on some days in Tuscany. Brilliant sunshine much of the time. A couple of days of constant drizzle in the Po valley and one with a torrential downpour of rain for hours in Switzerland. Given the duration of the walk you probably have to prepare for all of those.

 

[SYates]

As I always say: Climate is what you can expect, weather is what you will get!". So, prepare for coldish to blistering hot and take good rain gear. Once walking a similar Camino in France/Italy I had 6 weeks of non-stop rain followed then by several weeks of blistering heat.
BC SY

 

[domigee]

I walked the Frances 2 summers ago and I remember being cold in the morning and evening. I had never known a dry climate, as where I live near Montreal, summers and stuffy and humid and the warm weather doesn't dissipate during. It stays warm and humid during the night too. I was wondering what I can expect weather-wise on the Francigena, to pack accordingly (merino, quick-dry, heavy layers). I know it will be cold at St. Bernard's Pass, but if it's the only spot, I'll adjust.
Thanks!

St Bernard pass in July 2017 still had some snow but as you walk, you get warm! The Cisa pass was also chilly but all that was needed in both places was an extra layer.
The rest of the way, to Rome, we had the Lucifer heatwave, mostly 40 deg + !
An umbrella gave me some shade!
But hopefully it was a one-off? Who knows? I don't think we had one single day of rain...
Should you have the same high temperatures, try and find accommodation that have a/c, it is hard to sleep at night when it is so hot. During the day, start early and carry plenty of water.
Ah, crossing the rice fields, carry some insect repellentI Plenty of mosquitoes in Summer!!!

 

[Paul-CH]

When you start at July 1st you will probably be 14 days later at the St. Bernard's Pass.
I was there this year July 11th. At the Hospice Gd-St-Bernard I have been told, that just a week ago it was possible to start ski touring right in front of the Hotel as it had enough snow.
Temperatur when I went up from Bourg Saint Pierre 15°C.
The next morning from GSP 7°C to 25°C at Aosta. The following days between 16°C-30°C then it was to HOT for my and I stopped at Vercelli and will restart next spring (March) there.
More details on my german blog.

 

[lovingkindness]

Hello @camster
I walked through Italy on my way from France to Jerusalem in 2013. I crossed into Italy during the first week of July via the Montgenèvre Pass. I followed the VF as far as San Quiroco D'Orcia then switched to more pleasant trails eventually arriving in Assisi, Rome then Bari.

For me, the VF in July-August was a foretaste of purgatory : Walking in the searing heat beside roads and on flat surfaces; airless nights; Mosquitoes attacking day and night; steam billowing from rice fields into my face. I coped by setting off very very early.

Here's a pdf which I put together about the VF portion of my pilgrimage not long after I'd walked it...

Cheers
Lovingkindness

 

[domigee]

Hello @camster
I walked through Italy on my way from France to Jerusalem in 2013. I crossed into Italy during the first week of July via the Montgenèvre Pass. I followed the VF as far as San Quiroco D'Orcia then switched to more pleasant trails eventually arriving in Assisi, Rome then Bari.

For me, the VF in July-August was a foretaste of purgatory : Walking in the searing heat beside roads and on flat surfaces; airless nights; Mosquitoes attacking day and night; steam billowing from rice fields into one's face. I coped by setting off very very early.

Here's a pdf which I put together about the VF portion of my pilgrimage not long after I'd walked it...

Cheers
Lovingkindness

I had no idea you'd walked to Jerusalem too, I did it a year after you. . Bravo.
I'd love to do it again and walking through Italy opens new 'ways' for me, definitely time for thinking!

 

[camster]

Hello @camster
I walked through Italy on my way from France to Jerusalem in 2013. I crossed into Italy during the first week of July via the Montgenèvre Pass. I followed the VF as far as San Quiroco D'Orcia then switched to more pleasant trails eventually arriving in Assisi, Rome then Bari.

For me, the VF in July-August was a foretaste of purgatory : Walking in the searing heat beside roads and on flat surfaces; airless nights; Mosquitoes attacking day and night; steam billowing from rice fields into one's face. I coped by setting off very very early.

Here's a pdf which I put together about the VF portion of my pilgrimage not long after I'd walked it...

Cheers
Lovingkindness

Thank you. I'm grateful for your information, as well as others' before you.
As much as mosquitoes were totally absent on the Frances, it looks like there are a lot in Italy. I'll take heed.
Heading to look at your document. Thanks again!

 

[lovingkindness]

Thank you. I'm grateful for your information, as well as others' before you.
As much as mosquitoes were totally absent on the Frances, it looks like there are a lot in Italy. I'll take heed.
Heading to look at your document. Thanks again!

You are welcome!
Happy planning

 

[lovingkindness]

I had no idea you'd walked to Jerusalem too, I did it a year after you. . Bravo.
I'd love to do it again and walking through Italy opens new 'ways' for me, definitely time for thinking!

Hi there @domigee , @camster and others...
Yes! What an adventure. The urge to walk to the Holy Land was strong. It had been growing in me for years before I finally set off, flute in hand and not much else.

Here's a link to my route finding, guide books and maps:

L

Thread 'Italy: Cessana-Turinese via Assisi & Rome to Bari'

Mar 16, 2015

Buon Giorno.

Here are some of the resources used on my journey through Italy [July - Nov, 2013]. I walked without GPS or internet connection relying on signs and conversation. The maps and guides used were those found along the way. I set off from Castella, France in the cool of spring reaching Italy in high summer. Days and nights were a scorching fire and the mosquitos savage... and as I walked I made music. I dined on home-made pastas, pizzas and risottos and the scatterings of nature -grazie mille!

Route in Italy:

GR 653 D : Arles - Montgenèvre...

• lovingkindness
• Replies: 0
• Camino de Santiago Forum: Other walks around the world

• 

...and here is an accommodation resource which I put together afterwards (login to download). Many of the places where I sheltered had been welcoming pilgrims for centuries:

Resource icon L

Italy: Shelter 2013

Mar 16, 2015

Shelter along the Via Francigena & Il Cammino di San Francesco (2013): Cessana-Torinese to Bari

• lovingkindness
• Other Routes

Happy dreaming!

 

[domigee]

@lovingkindness Thank you!

 

[lovingkindness]

@lovingkindness Thank you!

..it's a pleasure!

 

[mick53]

I walked the Frances 2 summers ago and I remember being cold in the morning and evening. I had never known a dry climate, as where I live near Montreal, summers and stuffy and humid and the warm weather doesn't dissipate during. It stays warm and humid during the night too. I was wondering what I can expect weather-wise on the Francigena, to pack accordingly (merino, quick-dry, heavy layers). I know it will be cold at St. Bernard's Pass, but if it's the only spot, I'll adjust.
Thanks!

We walked the Via Francigena from Canterbury to Rome in 2017.Weather with natural and variability and climate change is unpredictable, can only look at averages BUT ...


1. you need to get to St Bernards Pass after it's opened, can check when it normally opens each year and allow a safety margin.
2. as you near Rome July will probably be too hot and in August it is getting unwalkable anywhere in Europe near the Mediterranean. We had the St Lucifer heat wave in Tuscany, 42°C is not fun, if it's that hot take a portable shelter i.e. an umbrella, lots of water, or don't walk!
May the weather gods smile on you and have fun, it's a fantastic walk!!!